Folding chair.



F. MARTINSON.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED 111:0. zo, 1909.

960,659. Patented June '7, 1910.

2 SHEETS-HEBT 1.

\ l! ZZ Annazw a GRAHAM cv. PHUTaLITHoGnAPMERS. WASHINGTON, D C,

P. MARTINSN.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLIOATION FILED 1320.20.1909.

960,659. Patented June 7,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lllllllillllm I lgmm 36 S14/vanto@ ANDREW a. GRMAM 1:0` PuoTo-LrrHoGnAPNERS, WASHINGTON, Dv c.

FFCF.

FRED MARTINSON, OFMBINGHAM CANYON, UTAH.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 20, 1909.

Patented June 7, 1910.

semi No. 534,022.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED MARTINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bingham Canyon, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible chairs or tables and is designed to construct a device of this character in such a manner that when the same is folded, it is entirely contained within the seat or top of the chair or table respectively, and may be carried in the same in a manner similar to a music roll.

It also contemplates the construction of a chair or table of this nature which will be adjustable vertically to various heights, and which will be prevented from collapsing after said adjustment. A

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a back which is permanently secured to the seat supports of the chair and collapses with the other elements thereof.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, specifically claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a chair, constructed in accordance with the present invention, expanded; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the chair extended with the seat removed; Fig. 3 is an inside elevation of the seat or cover illustrating how the folded chair is contained therein; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the device when the same is completely rolled; Fi 5 is a central section showing the attaching means of the seat supporting arms, also showing the arms in their two positions; Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the back elements; Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the back supporting chains, Fig. 8 is a central section partly in elevation of the means of securing one corner of the seat.

Reference being had to the drawings, l

indicates the tubular central supporting post of a chair constructed in accordance with I the present invention, `having a portion of the lower extremity 2 thereof threaded, and a series of orifices 3 piercing both sides of disk 4 is adapted to operate upon the threaded portion 2 of the post and provide a means for retaining the legs of the chair or table in an expanded position. This disk 4 extends laterally With respect to the longitudinal axis of the post l, and is adapted to form a bearing surface for the collar 5 carrying the legs. This collar 5 is adapted to reciprocate upon` the post 1 and is provided with a series of outwardly extending ears or lugs 6 between each pair of which is pivotally attached a leg or support 7. A pair of diametrically disposed recesses 8 are formed in the upper edge of the collar 5 and are adapted to register with the vertical alined orifices 3 in the post l, and provide a means whereby a pin 9 carried by one of the adjacent legs may be inserted in the post above said collar and prevent the collar from reciprocating upon said post. This pin also prevents any rotation of the post within the collar` and further rigidifies the entire structure. To prevent the legs from radiating to .their full extent and causing the chair to collapse, the same are connected by a series of chains or like members 10 in such a manner that the same can not extend beyond a certain point, and as a result impart further rigidity to the chair or table. If the legs are made out of sheet metal, the same will be approximately U-shaped in cross section, and as a result will necessitate the provision of a filler 11 in the upper extremities thereof adjacent the collar, the outer side of which is concave to conform with the oriiiced disk 4. This construction supplies a firm and substantial bearing surface for the orificed disk 4, and prevents the same from in any way weakening the legs.

Adjacent the upper extremity of the central post 1 is a slot 12 in which reciprocates the pin 13 transversely secured to a plug 14 which is loosely mounted in the upper extremity of said post. This plug is made of any suitable material and is provided at its upper extremity with a series of slots 15, each slot marking approximately the termination of a quadrant, and in which are pivotally mounted the seat supports. The seat supports comprise a series of arms 15a, 15b, 15, and 15d, commencing with the arm to which is secured the seat and cover. These the post in vertical alinement.V An oriced l arms are formed having their inner extremities 16 bent angularly and pivoted in the slots in such a manner that when the plug 14 is contained entirely within the post, the angular terminal 16 will be contained entirely within the slots, and consequently within the tube, causing the arms to be radiated and retained approximately horizontally. The arm 15a-.to which is permanently secured the seat and cover is provided at its outer extremity with the rivet 17 to which is secured the hasp 18 on the cover. The arm 15b has pivotally secured to its outer extremity one of the vertical supports` of the back 19, which is held in its Aoperative position by the chain 20 interposed between said support and the arm 15h. This support 19 is bent outwardly at 21 adjacent said pivotal point to form a means whereby the chain 20 may in no way interfere with the folding of the device. At the upper extremity of the support 19 is carried the horizontal back bar 22 which takes its normal position when the chair is extended, due to the provision of the twist 23 given the support 19 adjacent the pivotal point. The horizontal back bar 22 has in the under side of its free extremity the slotted recess 24C. rIhe arm 15c is provided with a similar vertical back support 25 corresponding in all details exactly with the support 19 with the exception ofthe provision of a headed stud 26 at its upper extremity which is received in the recess 24 of the horizontal back bar 22. This construction forms a substantial and secure back which, when set up, is perfectly rigid and will not collapse. The arm 15d is constructed somewhat similar to the arm 15a and has at its outer extremity a button 27 to which is detachably secured one corner of the seat when the device is extended.

The seat indicated in general as A comprises approximately a rectangular sheet of leather or cloth, in fact any suitable flexible material, and is provided along one side thereof adjacent the back with a handle 28. The rivets 29, which attach the handle to the main body portion of the seat, also secure a pair of outwardly extending strips of sheet metal, in the outer extremity of which rotate the angular keys 31. On the opposite sides to the keys and strips 31 and 30 are the eyes 32 in which said keys are adapted to be received when the entire device is collapsed and rolled, and lock the same in this position.

On the inner face of the seat A is an eye 33 which is adapted to fasten over the button 27, thus, in combination with the permanent fastening of the side to the armA 15a, forms a secure means of attaching the forward side of said seat. The side of the seat adjacent the back is provided adjacent the arms 15b and 15 with the hooks 311 which are received in the openings 35, piercing said arms adjacent the outer extremity thereof. Th1-s method of attaching the seat to the arms 15 firmly stretches the same over said arms and provide a firm and comfortable seat. There is also provided on the under face of the seat between the hooks 34 and eyes 32, the disks 36 which form an end closure for the roll when the chair is collapsed.

In operation, the chair when extended has the collar 5 secured between the oriced disk el, and pin 9 in such a manner that the legs 7 are extended to the limit of the chains 10. The plug 14 is pushed within the upper extremity of the tubular post 1 and as a result extends the arms approximately horizontally. The back is then set upA in the manner heretofore described and the seat is secured to the arms 15, making the chair ready for use. If it is desired to construct a table in accordance with this invention, the only alteration necessary in the elimination of the vertical back supports and the horizontal bar. When collapsed the pin 9 is withdrawn from the orifices 3 and allowing the post 1 to drop, which likewise permits the legs 7 to collapse and rest` against said post. The seat is then released from the arms and the back collapsed, after which the plug is withdrawn from the upper extremity of the tubular post, and allows the arms and the back elements to collapse over the legs 7 and rest close tothe post 1. The seat being pivOta-l'ly attached to the arm 15,a swings in such a manner that the pivotal point is approximately centrally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the folded chair, and as a result will permit the seat to incase said collapsed elements and be secured thereabout.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tubular central post, of legs pivotally connected to a collar slidable on said post, a disk adjustable vertically on said post adapted toA diverge said legs when thek collar is adjacent said disk, a pin adapted to limit the vertical movement of said collar,` a slotted plug adapted toV reciprocate in the upper extremity of said post, said plug being provided with means to limit the movement thereof, a series of arms having one terminal thereof bent at right angles to the body portion and pivoted in the slots of said plug adapted to be retained horizontally when said plug is contained within the post, and a seat permanently secured to one of said arms and adapted to be stretched over the remaining arms, said seat being adapted to entirely incase said chair when the same is folded.

2. In a collapsible chair, including a plurality of pivotal seat supporting elements, likewise secured to the seat adapted to ena portion of said elements having transverse gage said button. 10 openings adjacent to the terminals thereof, In testimony whereof I aix my signature a seat permanently and pivot-ally secured in presence of two Witnesses.

to one ofthe remaining elements, and a but- FRED MARTINSON. ton secured tothe remaining element, hooks Witnesses: i secured to the under surface of said seat JOHN SMITH,

adapted to engage said openings, and an eye JAMES D. LAMB. 

